Apparatus for melting snow and drying sand and like substances.



A. P. LINK.

APPARATUS FOR MBLTING snow AND DRYING SAND AND LIKE SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED JAILZZ. 1913.

1,092,778. Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

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ADOLF P., LINK, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR MELTING SNOW A1\TD DRYII\TG SAND AND LIKE SUBSTANCES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. '7, 191 1.

Application filed. January 22, 1913. Serial No. 743,467.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itkn'own that I, ADoLr P. LINK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Brooklyn, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Melting Snow and Drying Sand and like Substances, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relatesto an improved apparatus for melting snow, and for drying sand, gravel, and like substances.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for the purposes specitied, the construction of which will be relatively simple and economical, and the operation of which will be highly eflicient.

The invention consists of the novel structural features and combinations of elements hereinafter fully described, and particularly defined by the appended claims.

A concrete embodiment of the invention is illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a portable apparatus embodying the several features of my invention; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective'view, illustrating a series of louvers and the screw conveyer for expelling solid particles from the machine.

The invention may be embodied in a stationary structure, or in a portable structure such as a wagon, and in the present instance the use of a wagon 10 has been assumed, a portion of the wagon body, merely, being illustrated as sufficient for the purpose of elucidating the invention.

As above stated, the invention may be employed for melting snow, or drying sand and like substances, but in either case no structural modification is called for, the only difference being in the manner of use and the position given certain of the parts. A description of the structure illustrated will, therefore, be understood to cover the device whether used for snow melting or sand drying.

Extending from side to side of the wagon 10 is a series of horizontally arranged rods 11, each of which serves as a pivot about which a louver isdesigned to oscillate, each louver embodying the parts 12, 13 either integral or connected together, and offset in relation to each other, as clearly shown. Each louver is pivotally connected at 14 to one end of a link 15, the opposite end of the connected by a pivot pin 22, end of a vertical rod 23,

link being pivoted at 16 to an operating bar 17. Each operating bar is providedwith a rearwardly extending longitudinal rail 18 which is guided in sleeves 19 formed at the ends of brackets 20. The brackets for guiding the. end rails 18 are secured to the upright walls 10 of the wagon, while the bracket for guiding the intermediate rails are carried by a vertical supporting standard 21 secured to the bed of the wagon.

At its lower end, each operating bar is to the upper the lower end of which is pivoted, at 24, to an arrangement including the pivotally support-ed interconnected links 25 and 26, and the horizontally movable operating lever 27. One end of the operating lever is formed as a handle provided with notches 28 adapted to engage a keeper 29 secured at the side of the wagon. The bed of the wagon 10 is orificed to receive the vertical rods 23, and projecting upwardly from these orifices are sleeves 30, either cylindrical or elliptical in form, which surround, and insulate the rods 23 against the intense heat within the device (as more fully hereinafter described).

The louvers 1213 are arranged in substantially vertical series, the several series being arranged to form oppositely disposed pairs (Fig. 1), and the two series of each pair of lo-uvers being convergent at their lower ends and divergent at their upper ends. Near the lower, converging ends of each pair of louver series, there is provided a vertical bracket 31 having its upper portion formed as a substantially semi-circular trough 32. Rotatable within the trough is an endless screw or worm conveyer 33, carried on a shaft 3 1 to which a crank handle 35 is secured, and by means of which the conveyer is rotated. The conveyer is supported slightly above the bottom of the trough by suitable means (not shown).

For the effective operation of the invention it is desired that the interior of the wagon 10 be highly heated, and to this end I provide any suitable heating means interiorly on the wagon-bed In the form of invention illustrated, the use of a hydrocarbon heating medium has been assumed, and carried by the bed of the wagon is the brick hearth or furnace 36 through which the pipe 37 or any other suitable burner for fuel (oil) extends. As indicated in the drawing a separate heating medium is used in connection with each pair of louver series. It may be found expedient, at times, to use fuel which gives off considerable quantities of smoke, and to provide for that contingency I form in the upright walls 10 of the wagon, suitable flues 38, each of which is provided with a damper 39 of ordinary or usual construction.

The upper edge of the walls 10 is provided with suitable inclined guides or chutes 40, the intermediate chutes may be provided with the hooded flue 4:1 to permit the escape of any gas which may have a tendency to accumulate between the upper parts of the adjacent, intermediate, louver series.

When the device is to be used for melting snow, the operation is as follows :-After the heating arrangement 36, 37 has been started, the bell-crank 25-26-27 is moved to project the louvers 12-13 into the path of the snow which is introduced into the machine over the inclined guides or chutes 40. The louvers act in the nature of highly heated baffles tending to almost instantaneously melt the snow contacting therewith, this action being augmented by the heat flowing out from between the louvers. As the snow is melted by the upper louvers, it is converted into water, having a fairly high temperature, and this water descends onto any snow at the lower part of the machine and assists in melting such snow. The position of the louvers, when used for snow melting, is shown at the left of Fig. l, and it will be noted that each louver projects somewhat beyond the next higher preceding louver, there thus being formed a series of inclined steps or rests, each acting to melt the snow. As the center line of the pivots 14: is substantially in line with the edges of the guides 40 there will be no danger of snow passing inwardly beyond the pivots 14: and resting on the louver portions 12. But even if snow does find its way to the portions 12, the latter are so highly heated that the snow will melt and vaporize, and pass off through the lines in the form of steam. The water which results from melting the snow flows into the trough 32 whence it is removed by suitable means. The trough also receives any solid matter which may have been introduced with the snow, and this solid matter is expelled by means of the screw 33. The trough 32 is preferably somewhat inclined, to facilitate the removal of its solid and liquid contents.

If the machine is to be used for drying sand, gravel or like substances, the louvers are turned on their pivots by means of the bell-crank arrangement, until they appear either slightly open or as illustrated at the right of Fig. 1. In this position the louvers present practically continuous, highly heated walls to the sand introduced over the guides 40. When the louvers are turned, as

stated, the portion 13 of one louver overlaps the portion 12 of thenext succeeding lower louver, and as these portions are offset with relation to each other a practically uninterrupted wall results. The sand is dried in its descent along the highly heated inclined walls formed by the louvers, and is further dried and heated during the course of its removal out of the trough 32 by means of the screw 33. r j

l/Vhile I have described my invention in considerabledetail, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to such details, but that numerous modifications in structure may be introduced, Without dc parting from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is V 1. A machine of the character specified, embodying therein suitable heating means, and louvers arranged in the form of series adapted to be heated by the heating means, each louver embodying relatively offset parts.

2. A machine of the character specified, embodying therein suitable heating means, and louvers arranged in series inclined with relation to each other and adapted to be heated by the heating means, each ofsaid louvers embodying parts offset with relation to each other.

3. A machine of the character specified, embodying therein a series of interconnected louvers adapted to temporarily receive the material introduced into the machine, each of said louvers embodying parts offset with relation to each other.

4. A machine of the character specified, embodying therein a series of louvers adapted to temporarily receive the material introduced into the machine, each of said louvers embodying two parts offset with relation to each other.

5. A machine of the character specified, embodying therein an inclosing casing, and series of louvers arranged therein, said series of louvers being arranged in'opposed pairs inclined with relation to each other, and each of said louvers embodying parts offset with relation to each other.

6. A machine of the character specified, embodying therein an inclosing casing, heating means therein, and series of louvers within said-casing, said series of louvers being arranged in opposed pairs inclined with relation to each other, and each of said louvers embodying parts offset with relation to each other. V

7. A machine of the character specified, embodying therein an inclosing casing, heating means therein, a plurality of series of louvers within said casing, said series of louvers being arranged in downwardly converging pairs and each, of said louvers em 1 bodying parts offset with relation to each other, and means at the converging ends of said louvers for receiving material from the latter.

8. A machine of the character specified, embodying therein an inclosing casing, heating means therein, a plurality of series of louvers within said casing, said series of louvers being arranged in downwardly converging pairs and each of said louvers embodying parts oifset with relation to each other, and a trough at the converging ends of said louvers for receiving material from the latter.

9. A machine of the character specified, embodying therein an inclosing casing, heating means therein, a plurality of series of louvers within said casing, said series of louvers being arranged in downwardly converging pairs and each of said louvers embodying parts offset with relation to each other, a trough at the converging ends of said louvers for receiving material from the latter, and means operable within the trough to expel the solid contents therefrom.

10, A machine of the character specified, embodying therein an inclosing casing, heating means therein, a plurality of series of louvers within said casing, said series of louvers being arranged 'in downwardly converging pairs and each of said louvers embodying parts oii'set with relation to each other, a trough at the converging ends of said louvers for receiving material from the latter, and a screw conveyer revoluble within the trough to expel the solid contents therefrom.

11. A machine of the character specified, embodying therein a series of pivotally mounted louvers each of which louvers embodies parts offset with relation to each other, and means for oscillating said louvers about their pivots to project or retract the same.

12. A machine of the character specified, embodying therein a series of pivotally mounted louvers, each thereof comprising two parts offset with relation to each other, and means whereby said louvers may be overlapped to form a substantially continuous wall.

18. A machine of the character specified, embodying therein a series of louvers each thereof comprising two parts offset with relation to each other, a pivot upon which each louver is mounted at the point where the parts of the louver are relatively ofiset, and

means for moving said louvers about their pivots.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ADOLF P. LINK. Witnesses EUGENE WENING, OTTO MUNK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

